REFLECTIONS FROM ▶ GREG'S MESSAGE ON 8/11/24
Have you ever thought about what it means to be contagious? The word often carries a negative connotation—something to avoid, something harmful. But what if being contagious could be a good thing? What if, instead of spreading something harmful, you were spreading hope, love, and a positive influence? That's exactly what it means to be contagious like Jesus.
What Does It Mean to Be Contagious Like Jesus?
In the Gospels, we see that people flocked to Jesus. Crowds gathered wherever He went because there was something irresistibly contagious about Him. It wasn’t just His teachings; it was the way He lived, the way He loved, and the way He included others. So, what does this mean for us today?
To be contagious like Jesus, we need to ask ourselves a crucial question: "Which spirit is more at play in my life—one that includes or one that excludes?" The Holy Spirit always includes and prioritizes people, while a religious spirit creates barriers and excludes. The goal is to reflect the spirit of inclusion that Jesus embodied.
More Like Jesus Means More Time With Jesus
To be more like Jesus and, consequently, more contagious, we need to spend time with Him. It’s a simple yet profound truth: "More like Jesus means time with Jesus." But how often do we actually practice this?
Many of us might spend time in church or in small groups, which are good things. However, true transformation and the ability to be contagious like Jesus come from spending time alone with Him. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray, to be alone with the Father. This solitude was essential for Him, and it’s essential for us too.
Self-Reflection: When was the last time you spent time alone with Jesus? How can you carve out more moments of solitude to deepen your relationship with Him?
The Power of Silence and Solitude
One of the most impactful ways to become contagious like Jesus is through silence and solitude. These practices allow us to experience God in a deeper way, beyond just knowing about Him. They shift our relationship from one based on knowledge to one grounded in experience.
Self-Reflection: Are you more like a travel agent, sharing knowledge about Jesus, or a trail guide, leading others through your own experiences with Him?
The Invitation to Follow Jesus
Jesus’ invitation to "Follow Me" is a call to a different kind of life—a life that is often challenging but always better. It’s a life that may involve trouble, surrender, and even suffering, but it’s also a life filled with purpose and hope.
Self-Reflection: What does following Jesus look like in your life today? How can you embrace His invitation more fully?
Living a Contagious Life
Being contagious like Jesus is not about having all the right answers or being perfect. It’s about living a life that reflects the hope, love, and grace that you’ve experienced through your relationship with Him. It’s about allowing your time with Jesus to transform you so that others are naturally drawn to the same hope and love that you’ve found.
Self-Reflection: In what ways can you make your life more contagious, spreading the love and hope of Jesus to those around you?
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